DAY 425a OF THE WAR:Hostage Body Retrieved From Gaza, Settlers Set Fire to Palestinian Homes in West Bank, Judicial Reform Push Return, Who Does Reserve Duty?
The body of Itai Svirsky, who Hamas killed, has been recovered from Southern Gaza through a collaborative effort between the Security Services and the IDF. Itai (38) was abducted when visiting his mother at Kibbutz Be’eri. Tragically, his mother was killed before his eyes, and his father was also killed on that same terrible day. Itai’s captors fatally shot him following a nearby IDF bombing.
LEBANON
Today was another relatively quiet day in Lebanon, with only one major violation of the ceasefire. By the end of the week, the committee tasked with enforcing the ceasefire is expected to begin operation.
WEST BANK
Dozens of Israeli settlers set fire to homes and cars in two West Bank towns overnight after the Israeli Army evacuated an illegal outpost. The attacks occurred in Beit Furik and Hawara, near Nablus. Settlers also attempted to enter Beit Rujeib, but were stopped by Israel Defense Forces, who arrested eight settlers.
The outpost “Hill 617” was evacuated by the Civil Administration and Border Police earlier on Wednesday. Settlers from the nearby Yitzhar settlement, some armed, reportedly threw Molotov cocktails into the Palestinian town of Hawara, setting a house and cars ablaze. According to the volunteer human rights group Yesh Din (“There is Law”), settlers attacked a local farmer with sticks and stones, leaving him with skull fractures and requiring hospitalization. Settlers also reportedly attacked Yizhar’s communal security team coordinator, as well as assaulting two police officers whom they injured. Residents of Beit Furik said the targeted house belonged to a local family, and the car, owned by a relative, was parked there to avoid vandalism by settlers.
IDF FINAL REPORT ON THE DEATH OF SIX HOSTAGES
The IDF released a summary of the investigation into the deaths of six hostages in a tunnel near Khan Younis. Here is the statement issued by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari:
The investigation into the deaths of hostages Yagil Buchstab, Alexander Danzig, Avraham Mondar, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Poplowel, and Haim Peri, in an underground tunnel near Khan Yunis, has been concluded by Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, and was presented to their families today (Wednesday).
The investigation was conducted by Southern Command, the Prisoners and Missing Persons Unit, Military Intelligence, and the Israeli Air Force, examining both the circumstances of the deaths and the preceding processes.
Top (L-R): Nadav Popplewell, Yoram Metzger, Avraham Munder; bottom (L-R): Chaim Peri, Yagev Buchshtav, Alex Dancyg. Abducted to Gaza by Hamas on October 7, 2023, their bodies were retrieved by the IDF on August 20, 2024.
Key Findings:
The Strike: On February 14, 2024, Israeli Air Force aircraft carried out a precise strike in western Khan Younis targeting a Hamas underground infrastructure belonging to the Khan Younis battalion. The objective was to neutralize senior battalion commanders.
The Discovery: On August 20, 2024, six hostage bodies and six bodies of Hamas operatives were recovered from a nearby underground tunnel. Pathological examinations revealed gunshot wounds on the hostages’ bodies, but no gunshot marks on the Hamas operatives. Due to the elapsed time, a definitive determination of the direct cause or timing of the hostages’ deaths was not possible.
Likely Scenario: The investigation suggests with high probability that the deaths resulted from the nearby strike. It is plausible that Hamas operatives shot the hostages close to this event. Alternatively, the hostages might have been executed earlier or shot posthumously.
Lack of Intelligence: At the time of the strike, the IDF had no information or suspicion that hostages were present in the underground facility or its vicinity. Had such intelligence been available, the strike would not have been carried out.
Operational Approval: The strike adhered to the planning and approval protocols in place at the time. As there was no indication of hostages in the target area, the strike did not require approval from the Prisoners and Missing Persons Unit. Following the incident, procedures were revised to ensure stricter oversight, requiring the unit’s approval for certain strikes.
Hostage Recovery: After the strike, intelligence analysis by the Prisoners and Missing Persons Unit identified the location of the hostages’ remains. IDF and Shin Bet forces subsequently recovered the bodies, which were brought to Israel for burial.
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Statement of the IDF Chief of Staff:
Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi accepted the investigation’s findings, emphasizing the ethical duty to the hostages’ families and the importance of operational learning. Halevi reiterated:
No prior intelligence: The IDF and Shin Bet lacked any information about hostages in the area, and the strike would not have occurred if such intelligence existed.
Updated Protocols: The importance of adhering to revised strike procedures implemented after this tragic event was stressed.
In his remarks, Halevi stated:
In this long war, which began on a very dark day, the mission of returning the hostages alive is always at the forefront. We have made every effort to bring them back, achieving significant successes, though these are overshadowed as long as hostages remain. While we are confident that our actions support their return, mistakes have been made. Tragically, these hostages cannot be brought back alive. Families and the public must know that thousands of soldiers and commanders are tirelessly working to succeed in this mission and avoid errors. Every mistake that occurred stemmed from a lack of information, and we are committed to learning from them.
The IDF expresses its deepest condolences to the families for their profound loss and continues to prioritize all efforts to fulfill the national mission of bringing every hostage home.
One outcome of this tragedy is that any attack on Gaza now requires approval from the department of Nitzan Alon, IDF's Commander of the Intelligence Array for Locating the hostages, and possesses the most precise intelligence regarding their whereabouts.
In January 2023, Justice Minister Levin announced a sweeping proposal for what he termed “judicial reform.” However, this so-called reform scarcely addressed the issues most Israelis are concerned with, such as reducing court backlogs or shortening lengthy trials. Instead, its primary objective was to centralize more power within the government. Furthermore, some conservatives aimed to override Supreme Court decisions, displeased by the court's emphasis on civil rights, which they believed hindered specific actions they wished to pursue.
The proposals sparked immediate and widespread opposition. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested in the streets, effectively blocking most of the government's initiatives. Although one law was enacted, it was subsequently overturned. When the war broke out, the government pledged to suspend its judicial reform efforts. However, as the conflict de-escalates, the coalition has resumed advancing smaller legislative measures. It is important to note that a significant factor behind the attacks on the judiciary is the fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to testify in his ongoing corruption trial starting next week, a proceeding he has repeatedly sought to delay.
Several controversial laws are currently moving through the legislative pipeline. While not all of these proposed pieces of legislation will complete the process, and some may be struck down by the Supreme Court, here are the key proposals that have emerged so far, either in committee stages or preliminary readings:
1. Limiting Funding of the Legal Association
This proposal aims to restrict the dues collected by the association of lawyers, limiting them to the amount necessary for their legally mandated activities. The move is widely seen as retaliatory, targeting the association, which holds a seat on the committee responsible for appointing judges and has opposed the Justice Minister’s positions.
2. Privatizing the Public Broadcasting Authority
The government seeks to privatize Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster. Despite Kan’s successful reform under a previous Netanyahu government, its independent news coverage has drawn criticism from the current coalition, which prefers fewer media outlets capable of criticizing the government.
3. Absolute Immunity for Knesset Members
A preliminary law has been passed granting Knesset members complete immunity from prosecution. This legislation is being championed by MK Tali Gotlieb, who is herself under investigation for revealing the confidential identity of a high-level security officer.
4. The “Feldstein Law” on Military Information
This bill would permit any military personnel to bypass the chain of command and report information directly to the Prime Minister or Defense Minister, even if that information is classified. Named after Netanyahu’s aide, who was accused of mishandling classified documents, the law aligns with the government's narrative that the military withheld information, leading to the failures on October 7th. Military experts are strongly opposed to the bill, warning that it could disrupt the chain of command and lead to chaos.
Tonight, Army spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that the “Feldstein Law” would allow anyone to steal any secret document they want, creating total chaos. Later this evening, Hagari was widely condemned by government ministers for criticizing a bill in parliament. The current Defense Minister, often regarded as a Netanyahu puppet, stated that “he would ensure Army Spokesman Hagari is disciplined.”
5. Expanding Police Authority to Investigate the Attorney General
This proposed law would allow the police to investigate the Attorney General, further eroding the independence of the judiciary.
6. Redefining the Term “Supporter of Terror”
Amending this definition could potentially prevent Arab parties from participating in the next elections, raising significant concerns about democratic fairness.
7. Supreme Court Presidency Vote
Despite a court order, Justice Minister Levin has refused to hold a vote to elect a new President of the Supreme Court, as his candidate will likely lose the vote.
Furthermore, beyond the seven proposals that have been made public, it is highly likely that additional laws are being formulated that have not been mentioned here.
The disparity in IDF conscription has hit a breaking point. Approximately 70,000 yeshiva students of draft age are not serving, and when draft notices are issued, only a few hundred bother to respond. However, the situation with reserve duty statistics since October 7 tells an even more significant story.
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